NCFD World Tour: Taking over Film Festivals in Austria, China and the USA

(Inter)National Canadian Film Day 150

Canada’s borders can’t contain the excitement of National Canadian Film Day 150 (NCFD 150)!

Not only are Canadian films screening in over 50 countries because of the enthusiastic participation of Embassies, Consulates and army bases. They’re also taking over some of the world’s most exciting film festivals and venues.

The Festival du Film Francophone Wien is a collaborative festival celebrating the Francophone films of Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, France and Canada. For all of the past 18 years the festival has been held it has opened with a film from France. Now for the first time ever, a Canadian film—François Bouvier’s PAUL À QUÉBEC— will open the festival in acknowledgement of NCFD 150! Because the festival’s opening night and NCFD 150 happened to coincide on April 19, organizers were convinced to celebrate Canada! In addition to marking National Canadian Film Day and Canada’s sesquicentennial, the choice to open with a Canadian film also commemorates the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Austria and Canada. Plus, it’s a great film!

Nathalie Brigitte Bustos, the producer of PAUL À QUÉBEC and associate producer of Denis Villeneuve’s POLYTECHNIQUE, will be given the red carpet treatment — the festival is bringing her from Montreal to Vienna for the event, where she will do a Q&A. This high profile event will host 800 dignitaries from government, industry, and media. That’s a lot of people celebrating Canadian film!

PAUL À QUÉBEC

China is the fastest-growing film market in the world, and even they’re hopping on board the NCFD 150 train. April 19 falls right in the middle of the Beijing International Film Festival (BIFF), and a partnership between BIFF and Telefilm means guests there will have the chance to see Zacharias Kunuk’s MALIGLUTIT (SEARCHERS). Meanwhile, the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) will host the Chinese premiere of WINDOW HORSES, Ann Marie Fleming’s vibrant and charming animated coming-of-age story. With the voice talents of REEL CANADA favourites Sandra Oh and Don McKellar and a story about identity and self-discovery in the context of mixed Chinese-Persian ancestry, WINDOW HORSES is a truly Canadian story that’s sure to please an international crowd. Ann Marie Fleming will be in attendance.

WINDOW HORSES will screen at Hong Kong International Film Festival

Closer to home, NCFD 150 will be celebrated at festivals and venues around the United States.

Presented by the Consulate General of Canada in Minneapolis, The Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival (MSPIFF) has a whole day scheduled of Minnesota premieres for recent Canadian films: Alanis Obomsawin’s WE CAN’T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE TWICE, Chloé Robichaud’s BOUNDARIES, Xavier Dolan’s IT’S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD and Zacharias Kunuk’s MALIGLUTIT (SEARCHERS). Further down Highway 52, Dubuque, Iowa will be opening the Julien Dubuque International Film Festival (JDIFF) with a free “Celebrate Canada” screening of the 2016 rural mystery, THE LAND OF ROCK AND GOLD, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers and an after party at the Hotel Julien’s Riverboat Lounge.

In Atlanta, Canadian film will reach elementary and college students. At one of our Atlanta events, the Consulate General of Canada is presenting a lunchtime short film programme for grade 6 – 8 students at the Atlanta International School. They will see the animated NFB films BEGONE DULL CARE, DANCERS OF THE GRASS, WALK-IN-THE-FOREST and the classic THE LOG DRIVER’S WALTZ. Later in the day, Clayton State University will see students after class for an exclusive free preview of THE SUN AT MIDNIGHT in their screening room. This party featuring snacks, custom-designed t-shirts and Canadian flags is sure to draw in Canadian students missing home, their American classmates, and general public who all want in on the fun!

In Washington, DC, the Embassy will host two events just a jog down Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House. On April 19, a collection of eight contemporary and classic National Film Board (NFB) short films is scheduled to screen over lunch in the Embassy’s in-house cinema. But the night before will be even bigger—literally! On April 18 at 7:00 pm, the iconic Smithsonian Institute will celebrate a great Canadian cinematic invention: IMAX. The large-format film screening experience will feature the world premiere of AMAZON ADVENTURE, based on the true story of Henry Bates, who risked his life in pursuit of scientific discovery in the 1850s. This event will be attended by the film’s producer and lead writer, Wendy MacKeigan, Executive VP of SK Films.

Even Hollywood itself wants in on the CanFilmDay action! The Cinefamily at the historic Silent Movie Theatre in West Hollywood (in partnership with University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts) will be showing a free marathon of Canadian films throughout Tuesday evening and all day Wednesday. Wednesday night will feature the Oscar-nominated and Genie Award-winning INCENDIES. Canada’s Minister of Heritage, Mélanie Joly, will be there. And even writer-director Denis Villeneuve will be in attendance for a Q&A!

If that’s not enough, Telefilm and the American Cinematheque will present a series at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, featuring some of the boldest Canadian features of the past few years. Dubbed CANADA NOW: BEST NEW FILMS 2017, the series will show films by Bruce McDonald (WEIRDOS), Anne Édmond (NELLY), Kevan Funk (HELLO DESTROYER) and more! Many of these screenings will have filmmakers on hand for post-screening discussions. The series runs from April 20 – 23.

With the world taking notice of Canadian film, NCFD 150 is a truly international affair!